Self-feeder for fruit or vegetable slicers.



\ No. 731,349. E EATENTED JUNE 16, 1903.

` s. J. EVANS. sELE EEEDEE EOE FRUIT 0E VEGETABLE sLIcERs.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 7. 1902.

'N0.71,`349. PATENTBD JUNB16,19|03.

s. J. EVANS.

SELF FEEDER FOR FRUIT 0R VEGETABLE SLICERS.

,@.PPLIUATIOH` FILED AUG. 7. 1902.

N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNIT-.nn STATES Patented June 16, 1903.

SYLYESTERJ.- EVANS, OF JEDDO, NEWQRK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 731,349, datedJ' une 16,1903.

. ApplicationledAugust 7, 1902. Serial No. 118,723. (No model.)

time.

in the county of Orleans and State of New York, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Self-Feeders :for Fruit or VegetableSlicers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a self-feeder for feeding fruit or vegetablesto a slicing-machine.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and effective machineof this character which will feed the apples or other fruit orvegetables to be sliced one at a time to the slicer, thus preventingcrowding of the4 latter, which prevents injury to the apples in transit,and which is thoroughly reliable in action and may be operated by handor power.

With these objects in View the invention consists in certain features ofconstruction and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fullyset forth.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a self-feeder embodying my invention.Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same., Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section. section. the cups.

Referring now, more particularly to the drawings, 1 represents asuitable frame par- Fig. 4 is a vertical cross- Figs. 5 and 6 aredetails of one of titioned to forma hopper 2 and afeed-cham-, ber 8,which are Ain -communication at their.

lower endsand' which are providedwith reversely-inclined bottom walls 2and 3,,atthe juncture of which is arranged an opening 4 for passage ofan endless feeder 5, which conveys the fruit or vegetables from thehopper to an inclined feed-chute 6, located atthe.

outerend of the chamber-and designed to conduct the fruit or vegetablesby gravity to the Slicer. (Not shown.)

The feeder 5 is properly inclined to conduct the fruit or vegetables-sayapplesfrom the hopper' 2 to the chute 6 and is composed of a link chainprovided at intervals with cups 7, each of which is of a capacity toreceive but one apple of a certain size at a Above the opening 4 thewall 3' is divided to form a slot 8, in which the upper `portion of theinclined chain is received and Located at the top and bottom of theframe are transverse shafts 9 and 10, carrying sprocket-wheels 1l and12, over which the chain runs. .The upper shaft 9 is journaled in xedbearings 9' and carries a crank-wheel 13, whereby the shaftmay beoperated by .hand or power to drive theifeeder. The lower shaft 10,however, is vertically slidable in slots 14 in the sides of the frameand is journaled in bearing-brackets 15, formed with slots 16 `toreceive bolts 17, securing them to the frame, said' slots permitting ofthe adjusting of the shaft 10 toward and from the shaft 9 to maintainthe chain taut, as hereinafter described. Upon the operation of theshaft 9 to the right the chain is driven, and its working stretch movesupwardly through the opening 4, hopper 2, and chamber 3, the cups takingup the Vapples from the hopper and conveying them to and depositing themuponthe chute G in amanner that will be "readily understood by referenceto Fig. 3 of the drawings.

Connected to the frame 1 is a tube 18, which is located in alinementwith the opening 4 and serves to guide the working stretch of the chainin its upward movement, thus preventing it from moving .out of line, andconseq'uently preventing any undue oscillation and tendency of theapples being shaken from the 'cups and dropping back into the hopper.

Extending in to the opening 4 from opposite sides thereof are valves 19in the form of fiexible iaps, which prevent the apples in the .hopperfrom falling into and clogging said opening when the latter isunoccupied by a cup and are adapted to yield upwardly under the pressureof the cups and thenfdrop back to close the opening. This action of theliaps also prevents the apples from crowding against the cup, making Vitimpossible for more than one apple-namely, that seated in i the cup-frombeing carried by the cup to the discharge-chute.

Mounted in bearings 2O on the frame is a rock-shaft 2l, which isprovided at one end with a crank-arm 22, attached by a connecting-rod 23to a crank 24 upon one end of the ICO shaft 10. Said rock-shaft is alsoprovided with a second crank-arm 25, located intermediate of its lengthand connected to the lower end of a connecting-rod 26, which is attachedat its upper end to the inner free'end oi a.

vibrating bar 27, pivoted at its outer end by a resilient strap 28 tothe frame to vibrate vertically in a slot 29, formed in the hopperbottom2. In the operation of the machine the rotation of the shaft lOcansesthe bar 27 to he vibrated bythe intermediate connections just described,and this action of the bar prevents the apples in the hopper 2 fromwedging and packing and keeps them in a loosened state, so that they maybe readily taken up by the cups 7. i

Each cup4 7 is approximately ot U form and is provided around its edgeswith a groove or recess 30 to receive a cushioning-strip 31, securedthereto by thread-stitches or suitable fastening devices passing throughopenings 32, formed in the cup. This cushioning-strip, which may becomposed of rubber, felt, yarn, or other like soft or yielding,rmaterial, prevents injury to the apples by allowing them to seat withoutcoming in contact with the relatively harder body of the cup, thusobviatiug all liability of the apples becoming bruised or cut whilehandled by the conveyer. As shown, the soft seat formed by thecushioning-strip is rounded to form a seating-surface devoid of angles.In some cases, however, l may round the edge of each cup to form a seatand dispense with the strips.

In operation the apples are placed within the hopper 2 and the conveyerset in operation to convey them one by one to the discharge-chute 6, bywhich they are conducted to the slicer. The conveyor is kept at theproper degree of tautness or tension by the adjustment of shaft 1Uthrough the bearingbrackets l5.

The advantages resulting from my irnproved structure are that the applesare fed positively one by one to the slicer, so that choking of thelatter cannot possibly occur; that bruising or cutting of the apples bythe conveyer is effectually prevented; that the apples are kept in aconstantly-loosened state in the hopper and cannot wedge or packtherein, and that as the working stretch of the con veyer is positivelyguided in a direct path all liability of jostling of the apples from thecups is entirely obviated. The machine when run by power requires noattendant other than a boy to feed the hopper at stated intervals, as itis positive and reliable in action and not liable to get out of order.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, it is thought that the construction, mode otoperation, and advantages of my improved self-feeder forvegetable-Slicers will be read ily apparent Without requiring a more eX-tended explanation.

Various changes in the` form, proportion,

and the minor details of construction may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages ofthis invention. t

Having thus described the invention, I claiml.` In a self-feeder forslicing-machines, a hopper having an opening therein and adischarge-chute, a conveyer having its working stretch moving throughsaid opening and through the hopper between said opening and thedischarge-chute, and provided with cups, and means for positivelyguiding the said Working stretch of the conveyer in its path of travelthrough the opening and to the discharge-chute, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a self-feeder for slicing-machines, a hopper havingan openingtherein, a conveyer having its Working stretch moving through saidopening and provided with cups and opposing flexible tlaps normallyclosing Vsaid opening, substantially as set forth.

3. In a selffeeder for slicing-machines, a hopper, a conveyer movingthrough the hopper, a vibrating agitator in the hopper, and means forsimultaneously operating the conveyer and agitator, substantially as setforth.

4. In a self-feeder for slicing-machines, a hopper, a vibrating agitatortherein, upper and lower shafts, a con veyer mounted onsaid shafts andmovingthrough the hopper, a rockshaft, and crank connections between-the rock-shaft and lagitator and said shaft and one of saidconveyer-shafts, substantially as set forth.

5. In a self-feeder for slicing-machines, an .endless conveyer providedwith cups each having a continuous rounded edge, forminga non-bruisingseat, substantially as set forth.

6. In a self-feeder for slicing-machines, a hopper having an openingtherein, a conveyer having its Working stretch moving through saidopening and provided with cups, and a tube for positively guiding theWorking stretch of the chain, su bstantially as set forth.

7. ln a self-feeder for slicing-machines, a frame or casing having ahopper and a discharge chute or passage, said hopper being provided witha bottom-opening, sprocketwheels or pulleys arranged above and belowsaid opening, an endless conveyer mounted on said Wheels orpulleys andhaving its working stretch traveling through the'hopper-opening andhopper and to said chute or passage, and means for guiding the Workingstretch of the chain to move in a direct line through the saidhopper-opening and hopper, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses. l

SYLVESTER J. EVANS.

Witnesses:

HARRY F. WELToN, CLARA V. PosT.

IIO

